Check-In! Using the Mood Meter at Home
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How are you feeling? How are you feeling right at this moment? How are the people in your family feeling? Experiencing multiple emotions is normal, and when we are in the midst of tumultuous times, these feelings intensify. In your child's classroom, they have been introduced to a Mood Meter. Using the Mood Meter at home is a great start for family conversations around feelings that help build emotional skills.
The Mood Meter is a tool for building self-awareness, the ability to identify emotions, as well as awareness of the feelings of others. You plot your feelings using the two axes, pleasantness, and energy. You're able to take a look and say, "I feel very intensely pleasant. I'm really feeling pleasant now and I have a lot of energy about it". This would place your feelings in the yellow quadrant.
While you have breakfast or before you leave for school ask your child where he/she finds themselves on the meter and share your own feelings. Then, when they return from school ask them again to plot their position on the Mood Meter. Check-in again in the evening at dinner or before bed. Remember that while some emotions may be uncomfortable, there are no ‘bad’ emotions, all feelings are ok!
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Question Prompts
Question Prompts:
Where are you on the mood meter?
How are you feeling at this particular moment?
What is that emotion called?
Why do you think you're feeling that way?
How can you stay there or move to a different place on the Mood Meter?
What will be the result of you feeling this way?
What will you do now that you know you're feeling somewhat ______ (irritated, frightened, nervous, sad, calm, etc.)
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Tips and Templates
Tips:
- Post the Mood Meter in a visible area in your home like the refrigerator or in the Calming Area.
- Create your own Mood Meter (Ex. 1 English/Spanish, 2, 3)or use our Mood Meter Template (English/Spanish)
- Use a nametag, special magnet, photo, or picture to represent each family member- check-in throughout the day (morning, after school/work, bedtime) and move your image around depending on your mood.
- Consider keeping a journal to track triggers for different feelings, to reduce red/blue feelings, and maintain/promote yellow and green feelings.
- Use the Mood Meter to track characters on tv shows, movies, or favorite books.
(adapted from marshalles.seattleschools.org/
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SEL Connection
SEL Connection
There are many life-skill benefits to building self-awareness including:
- Identifying, understanding, and talking about feelings.
- A growing sense of empathy.
- Understanding how personal behavior affects others.
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Additional Resources
Articles/Books for Parents:
Mood Meter Overview (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
The Mood Meter: a tool for developing greater self-awareness and awareness of others
Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive by Marc Brackett Ph.D.
The Importance of Self-Awareness In Children
Videos/Books to share with your child:
Emotions - StoryBots Super Songs
The Color Monster by Anna Llenas